Sound-reproducing machine.



C, lx/l. AND G M. GAMBA.

SOUND REPHODUCING MACHIN.

APPLICATION msu luNE 20,1918.

l 326, 5723 D Pateud Doc. 30, MHG.,

[SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. III. AND G. III. CAI/IBA.

SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1918.

Patwed Dec. 3U, ISIS?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WJ uam m @ma w ZW U e mr 0 Wm .ww

vnu

fill

TED sTA ENT oriiron.

CARLOS MORENO GAMBA AND GUILLERMO MORENO GAMBA, OF HABANA, CUBA.

SOUND-REPEODUCING MACHINE.

neme.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec., 30, 1919.

Application filed June 20, 1918. Serial No. 241,044..

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CARLOS MORENO GAMBA and GUILLERMO MORENO GAMBA, citizens of Cuba, and residents of Habana, Cuba, have invented a new and useful lmproveinent in Sound-Reproducing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements oi'souiid reproducing machines and has for its principal object the provision of means for automatically exchanging the stylus or needles engaging the cylinder or recoird plate and which are preferably used but once.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a needle exchanging device which automatically operates upon actuation of the needle holder and thus obviates any possibilityof injury to the lingers of a person.

lt is a further object of the invention yto provide a magazine containing a plurality of needles which are fed to the needle holder at the will of the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for positively ejecting used needles from said holder and for clamping a new needle thereto in functional position.

A further object aims at the provision of means for conveniently introducing a plurality of needles into the magazine in proper position.

lt is a further obj ect to arrange means for imparting to the magazine a step by step movement in order to place the needles stored therein in position to be discharged.

Still another object embraces the prevention of excessive movement of the magazine under the influence of the momentum imparted thereto to etfectthe discharge of a needle.

The invention furthermore has for its object the provision ofc'er'tain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the effectiveness and the general desirability of a machine of this particular character.

rlo the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends the invention consists of the means hereinafter fully described and par ticularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following descrip tion setting forth in detail certain mechanisms embodying the invention which, however, constitutevbut one of the various ways in which the principle of the invenm tion may be used.

constructed in accordance with the invention and secured to the needle carrying arm of a sound reproducing machine.

Fig. 2 discloses the apparatus in side elevation in a position where a new needle is inserted.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-34of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the magazine containing the needles.

Figo is an enlarged sectional view of the magazine.

Fig. 6 is a detail view disclosing the manner of placing the magazine into the casing without enabling the needles to drop.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 1.

The sound reproducing machine includes a sound box 1 which is common'to all machines of the character specified, and which is equipped with a hollow cylinder 2 located cent-rally thereof and extending into a cylinder Both cylinders are provided with an opening 4 and 5 respectively which when registering afford a passage for the sound engendered by the vibration of a diaphragm 73 iivitfhin the sound boX and traveling through the arm or tube 6 into the funnel,

not shown, where the v olume of sound issued considerable. The outer cylinder 3 is rigidly secured to the arm 6 and to a support or bracket 7 and thus. constitutes a bear-V ing in which the cylinder 2 is joiirnaleiil-v so that the sound box can be easily rotated. On the upper end of the bracket 7 a base plate 8 is arranged forming the support for a drum or casing 9 concentric to said drum and on the 'base pla-te, the cylinder 10 is provided, which is of solid construction and is i formed with a series of spaced openings or bores 11 in circular arrangement adjacent to its circumference and serving as a. magazine for the reception of the needles. TheA cylinder 10 has a. bore 13 at its center for the passage of a. sleeve 13 formed integral with ay disk 14 constituting the bearing plate for the needle carrier 10'. As indicated in llfig. 5 the disk 14 is provided with a plurality of upstanding pins 15 in circular arrangement between tlie center and the bores 11 and adapted to project into sockets 16 of the needle carrier 10 whereby tlie cylinder 10 and disk 14 are locked against relative rotation. A shaft 18 extends through the sleeve 13 and projects into a bore 19 of the bracket 7 where it stops short of the bottom oi the bore. Ars is indicated in Fig. 5 the shaft 18 is equipped `with a collar 2O bearing against the upper edge of the sleeve 13 and with a circumferential beveled groove 21 nearrits lower end into which a set screw 22, arranged in the bracket 7, projects, whereby the Shaft 18 is maintained in vertical position. The disk 14 is equipped with a series of openings 23, which in the functional position of the disk and of the needle carrier 10 a're in registry with the bores 11 of the carrier. The disk 14 is equipped with au enlarged toothed rim 24 whereby rotary movement may be imparted to the disk 14 and incidentally to the needle carrier. The movement of the disk 14 is derived from a pawl 25 mounted on a pin 26 extending through a lever 27 which in turn is pivotally secured by means of a bolt 28 to a bracket 29, depending from the base plate 8. To the bracket 29 plates 30', 31 are secured by means of pins 32, one on each side and these platesI are bent to provide a circular openn ing 33 in registry with an opening 34 in the base plate 8 which is provided for the passage ot a needle discharged from one of the openings 11 placed in vertical alinement with said opening 34. In order to permit engagement ot' the toothed riml 24 by the pawl 25 an opening 35 is provided inthe base plate 8 (Fig. 5) so that upon oscillation oit-the lever 27 the free end of the pawl extends through the opening 35 into engagement with the toothed rim 24 and imparts to the disk 14- and to the needle carrier 1 0 an intermittent movement. A spring 36 1s secured at one end to the bracket 29 as at 37 and engages with the other end the pawl 25 so as to maintain the latter ordinarily in retracted or idle position.

The movement imparted to the needle car rier upon actuation of the lever 27 may, however, exceed a predetermined amount and in order to veliminate excessive movement a detent in the form of a roller 38 is 24 thus obviating any rotation o' the disk 14 and magazine 10 when the `pawl is not actuated.

rl`he cylinder 10 is equipped with circumferential grooves 43, 44 of which the -former opens into the bores 11 (Fig. 5) and'both grooves are adapted to receive a resilient cord or band 45 and act as seats for the saine. rl`lie casing 3 has a circumferential resent( flange 46 on the inside thereof which acts4 as an abutment-to remove the cord 45 from the groove 43 (see Fig. 6) and to force it into the groove 44, when the magazine 1G is lowered into the drum or casing 9. lt

is obvious that the cord 45 when in the The cylinder 3, constituting the bearing for the sound box 1, has an annular flange or rim 48 and a cam flange 49 with which the head 50 of a rod 5l coperates when the sound box is rotated within the cylinder 3 for the purpose hereinafter speciied. The rod 51 projects through a bracket 53 secured. to the sound box and having a bore 52 for the passage of the rod. The outer end of the rod 51 is pivotally connected to a head 54 by means of a pintle 55 and is maintained in retracted orinoperative position by the action of a spring 56 interposed between the head 50 and the bracket 53. The head 54 is pivotally connected to the needle holder generally designated by 59 by a bolt 58,'and an arcuate slot 60 in the holder permits movement of the enlarged eccentric portion oi the head 54. rlhe holder 59 has a bore 62 for the reception of a needle 57 and is pivotally secured to an arm 81 depending from the sound box 1.l The holder 59 is formed with a finger 61 and terminates in an arm 72 connected to the dia hragm 73 whereby vibrations Set up by tlie engagement of the needle with the record disk are transmitted to the diaphragm and the sound thus engendered passes through the cylinder 2 and registering openings 4, 5 into the arm or tube 6 and issues out of the funnel or horn, not shown. The bore 62 extends through a portion of a head 59 and opens into a bore 63 of reduced diameter which serves for the reception of an ejector-rod 64 equipped at its inner end with a head 65 and slotted as at G6 to permit passage oi a screw 67 in threaded engagement with a bracket 6 8 formed integral with or' made separate and secured to the sound box 1. A spring 69 is interposed between the head 59 and thus acts to maintain the rod 67 in retracted or inner position. As is indicated in Fig. 1 the parts are normally maintained in position such that the eccentric portion oit vthe head 54 is in engagement with the needle 57v whereby the latter is retained within the bere of the head 59. lt, as described later, the rod 51 is moved longitudinally out- Lezama wardly against the tension of the spring 56 the head 54 is rotated about its pivot 58 whereby the engagement between the head 'and needle is released, thus permitting the latter to be ejected or otherwise removed from the head 59.

rlhe flange or rim 48 is equipped with a cam 70 secured thereto by a pin 71. The cam, as shown in Fig. 3, is in .the path of the head when the latter, in the rotation of the sound box, rotates yand causes said head to be raised whereby the rod '64 is moved longitudinally and outwardly.

The operation of the device is as follows:

To store a plurality of needles in the magazine the cylinder 10 is removed from the casing 9 and placed such that the bores 11 extend in horizontal direction, whereupon the needles are introduced into said bores.

A rubber band or a similar elastic member is arranged around the cylinder and in the groove 43 to contact with the needles and to maintain the same in proper position within the cylinder when the latter for the purpose of being introduced into the casing is turned so that the bores are situated in vertical position. Upon introducing the cylinder into the casing 9 the rubber band 45 enters into engagement with the flange or abutment 46 and is then forced into the groove 44 so that all of the needles are released and can be discharged downward through the opening 23 of the diskv 14 when placedin registry with the openings 33, 34 of the discharge chute formed by the plates 30, 31.l When the magazine has been placed in osition and covered by the lid 47, a nee le may be automatically introduced into the holder, or a used needle may be exchanged by a new one whenever this is required and with no other effort than a simple rotation of the sound box and its associated parts. f

To illustrate the operation of the device it may be assumed that the needle holder 59 has a needle 57 as shown in Fig. 1 which having been used on a record-disk is to be replaced by a new needle. To eiect this exchange of needles, the sound box and therewith the needle holder 59 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in 'to the openings 33, 34, of the chute and the needle, contained in the appertaining bore 11`drops into the bore 62 of the head 59. In the counter clockwise rotation of the sound box 1 as viewed in Fig. 1 the head 50 is raised by the stationary cam 49 on which it rides and the outward movement of the rod 51 against the tension of the spring 56 causes a rotary motion of the head 54 about the pivot 58 whereby the gripping engagement between the latter and the needle is released. lln thel continuous rotation of the sound box the head 65 of the rod 64 is thrown outwardly against the tension of the spring 69 by the cam 70 so that the needle, after release of the engagement and loosely held in the head 59, is positively ejected. The continued rotation of the sound box, which causes the ratchet movement of the magazine and the discharge of a needle into the box 62 of the holder, brings the head 65' past the cam 70. In the return movement of the sound box the head 65 travels underneath the cam 70 and therefore is not influenced thereby. 4

The rod 51 after leaving the cam 49 eXecutes a longitudinal movement inwardly whereby the head 54 is brought in gripping engagement with the needle 57 which upon the completion of the clockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 1, is held in functional position and ready to engage the record plate, not shown.

lt is obvious that where the device is used for the first time or when a needle is not arranged in the holder, the same operation is executed as described, the action of the cams and the rods being of course without effect as long as the needle holder is empty.

lhile the drawings disclose one preferred embodiment of the invention, attention is lcalled to the fact that the disclosure is ceived and we therefore do not restrict ourselves either to the precise form or to the mode of operation but claim our invention as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

We claim:

1. ln a sound Areproducing machine, in combination, an arm, a sound box movably connected thereto, a needle holder mounted on said sound box, and means controlled by said sound box, for automatically removing a needle from said holder and inserting therein a new needle.

- 2. ln a. sound reproducing machine, in combination, a sound box rotatable 'about its axis, a needle holder mounted on said sound box, a magazine containing needles, and means controlled by said sound box for automatically removing a needle from the holder inserting therein a new needle from the magazine, and clamping the new needle in said holder. y

s 3. ln a .sound reproducing machine, in combination, a sound box rotatable about its axis, a needle holder mounted on said sound boX, a magazine containing needles, and means controlled by said sound box upon rotation of the latter for automatititi titi

cally removing a needle from the holder inserting therein a new needle from the magazine, and clamping the new needle'in said holder.

4. In a sound reproducing machine, in combination, a sound box rotatable about its axis, a needle holder mounted on said sound box, a magazine containing needles, means for ejecting a. needle from said holder, and. means for subsequently automatically transferring a needle from the magazine to the holder. v

5. ln a sound reproducing machine, in combination, a sound box, rotatable about its axis, a needle holder mounted onfsaid sound box, a magazine containing needles, means for ejectmg a needle from said holder, and means for automatically transferring a needle from the magazine to the holder, said lirst and second namedmeans being controlled by said 'sound bonn 6. ln a sound reproducing machine, in combination, a rotatably supported sound box, a needle holder connected with said sound box, a magazine containing needles, means for automatically ejecting a needle from lsaid holder, means for automatically transferring a new needle from the magazine to said holder and means for clamping the new needle in said holder, all of said means being controlled by said sound box.

7. ln a sound reproducing machine, in combination, a rotatably ysupported sound box', a needle magazine, a needle holder on said sound box, means for ejecting a needle from said holder, means for automatically transferring a new needle from the magazine to said holder and means for clamping the needle in said holder, all of said means being actuated by said sound boxupon rotation oit the same.

8. ln a sound reproducing machine, in combination, a rotatably supported sound box, a needle holder mounted thereon, a magazine containing needles, means tor ejecting a needle trom -said holder, means for transferring a needle from the magazine to said holder, and means for clamping the needle in said holder, all of said means operating automatically upon actuation of said sound box.

9. ln a sound reproducing machine, in combination, a rotatably supported sound box, a needle holder mounted on said sound box, a magazine containing needles, means controlled by said sound 'box for automatically transferring la needle trom the magazine to the holder, and means controlled by the position of the sound box for clamping a needle in said holder.

l0. A magazine tor needles, including a cylinder provided with a plurality of compartments tor the reception of needles and with a circumferential groove, opening into said compartments, and means removably Leaders arranged in said groove for maintaining the needles in proper position Within said compartments. g

1l, A magazine for needles, including a cylinder provided with a plurality of compartments for the reception of needles and With a circumferential groove, opening into said compartments, and elastic means removably arranged in said groove for maintaining the needles in proper position Within said compartments.

l2. A magazine for needles including a cylinder provided With a plurality of spaced needle receiving compartments and With a circumferential groove opening into said compartments, elastic means removably ar-l ranged in said groove in contact with said needles to maintain the same with said compartments, and means for shitting said elastic means to leave the groove and release the needles prior to eii'ecting discharge of the same. c

13. A magazine for needles including a cylinder provided With a plurality-of compartments for the reception of needles and with a plurality of circumferential grooves, one ot' said grooves opening into said compartments, and means arranged in the last named groove for holding the needles in position, said means being transferable to another ot said grooves to release said needles.

14. A magazine for needles comprising, in combination, a casing, a cylinder having a plurality of compartments for the reception of needles and a pluralityof cir cumferential grooves, one of Which opens into said compartments, means arranged in the last named groove for maintaining the needles in position, and means arranged in said casing for transferring said holding means to another of said grooves upon introduction of the cylinder into said casing.

l5. A magazine for needles comprising in combination a casing, a cylinder having a plurality of compartments for the reception of needles and a plurality of circumferential grooves, one ot which opens into said compartments, means arranged in the last named groove for maintaining the needles in position, and a tlange on the inside of the casing and constitutingv an abutment for transferring said holding means to another of said grooves upon introduction of the cylinder into the casing.

i6. ln a sound reproducing machine, a rotatably supported sound box, a needle holder secured thereto, a magazine rotatably supported and containing a plurality of needles, a chute coperating' with said magazine, means including a ratchet and pawl for imparting an intermittent movement to said magazine to edect successive discharge through said chute and means provided on said needle holder for actuating said first named' means lil@ ist

lli@

17. In a sound reproducing machine, a rotatably supported sound box, a needle holder secured thereto and adapted to be swung into operative and inoperative position, means for clamping a needle in said hol-der, a .magazine rotatably supported and containing a plurality of needles, means for imparting an intermittent movement to said magazine to effect discharge of said needles, means provided on said holder for actuating said magazine rotating means and means controlled by said sound box for releasing a needle from engagement with said holder prior to placing the same in inoperative position.

18. In a sound reproducing machine, a rotatably supported sound box, a needle holder secured thereto and adapted to be swung into operative and inoperative position, meansfor clamping a needle in said holder, a magazine rotatably supported and containing a plurality of needles, means for imparting an intermittent movement to said magazine to eli'ect discharge of said needles, means provided on said holder for actuating said magazine rotating means, means controlled b-y said sound box for releasing a needle from engagement with said holder prior to placing the latter in inoperative position, and sound lbox controlledmeans for ejectin a needle from the holder.

19. n a sound reproducing machine, a rotatably supported sound box, a needle holder secured thereto and adapted to be swung from operative to inoperative position and vice versa, means for clamping a needle in said holder, a needle-magazine rotatably supported, means for imparting an intermittent movement to said magazine to bring the needles in discharging position, means for actuating said magazine rotating means upon the holder approachingthe inoperative position, and sound box controlled meansfor releasing and ejecting va needle from the holder, the lastJ named means acting prior to the holder reaching the inoperative position.

20. In a sound reproducing machine, a needle magazine rotatably supported, mechanism for imparting an intermittent movement to said magazine todischarge the needles, a needle holder adapted to be swung from operative to needle receiving position with respect to said magazine, means on said holder for actuating said mechanism, a

member for clamping a needle in the holder, means for releasing said member from clamping engagement to discharge the holderneedle before said holder reaches the needle receiving position, and means acting subsequent to said releasing means and prior to said actuating means for ej ecting a, needle from said holder.

21. In a sound reproducing machine, in combination, a sound box rotatably mounted, a needle holder mounted on said sound box, and a magazine containing needles, said needle holder being adapted to be actuated upon rotation of the sound box to eject its needle prior to receiving a new needlev from the magazme. v

22. In a sound reproducing machine, a rotatably supported needle magazine, means for singly discharging the needles therefrom, a needle holder adapted to 'be swung into position to receive a discharge needle, means for clamping a needle in the holder, means for releasing said clamping means upon rotation of said holder, a rod connected with said holder for ejecting a needle therefrom and means acting during rotation of the holder into receiving position for imparting movement to said rod.

23. In a sound reproducing machine, a rotatably supported needle magazine, means for singly discharging the needles therefrom, a needle holdery adapted to be swung into position to receive a discharged needle, means for clamping a needle in the holder, means for releasing said clampingmeans upon rotation of said holder, a headed rod connected with said holder for ejecting a needle to contact with said rod upon movement of the latter in one direction. y

24.. In a sound reproducing machine, a rotatably supported needle magazine, means for singly discharging the needles therefrom, a needle holder adapted to be swung into position to receive a discharged needle, means for clamping a needle in the holder, means for releasin said clamping means upon rotation of said holder, a headed rod for ejecting a vneedle from said holder, .and

a pivotally secured cam, the head of said rod passing over the cam in one direction and under the cam in the other direction.

In witness whereof we affix our signatures. CARLOS MORENO GAMBA.

GUILLERMO MORENO GAMBA. 

